"As exciting as the Melbourne Cup."
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That's how Bakhshinder Grewal describes the Teeyan festival, which is one of the most eagerly anticipated dates on the Punjabi calendar.
Just like how Melbourne Cup is the race that stops a nation, the Teeyan festival is a chance for Punjabi women to drop everything, get together, and celebrate.
The Indian community certainly knows how to throw a celebration, and the Teeyan festival is no exception; it continues to be one of the most colourful and vibrant celebrations in Griffith.
The festival is open to all women and children, Punjabi or otherwise, and will be held at the Yoogali Club on August 17 from 11am.
Dozens of Punjabi women have spent the last few weeks rehearsing for the festival, which features traditional songs, dances, acting performances, and mouthwatering Indian food.
The chai will also flow freely on the day - the kind of proper, authentic, handmade chai that's hard to come by in Australia.
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In Punjabi villages it's a time of feasting, fun, and festivities to mark the end of the harvesting season, when people have more time for the important things in life: friends, family, community.
In Griffith it's also a chance for young Punjabis to learn the language, songs, and dances, and it's a chance for Punjabi women to showcase their most colourful sari dresses.
Sukhy Kaur is one of the Punjabi women who will be dressed up to the nines on the day, and she'll also be dancing the Giddha - a folk performance that features stories of femininity and women's lives.
"It's a good way to create a sense of belonging to the culture, to keep it alive," Ms Kaur said. "You're in a foreign country so you want to stay connected to your roots."
She's been rehearsing the Giddha with a team of her friends for the past month, and all that practice will pay off when they showcase their skills on August 17.
Tickets are available at the Veggie Basket, any of Griffith's Indian grocery shops, at the door, or from one of the organisers: Sandeep, Gurpreet, or Veerpal Kaur.
Tickets are $13 for adults, $10 for children, and $15 at the door, and it includes lunch, afternoon tea, and plenty of chai.
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